BSF lodges protest with Pak over tunnel issue in J-K

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BSF on Tuesday lodged a 'strong protest' with its Pakistani counterpart days after a cross-border tunnel was unearthed along the international border in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir, as the Government voiced concern over the matter.

"A strong protest was lodged late this afternoon by BSF with its counterpart Pakistan Rangers over detection of a tunnel in the Indian territory from Pakistan along the International Border (IB) in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir," a senior BSF official said in Jammu.

A strong protest note with evidence was also handed over to Pakistani authorities at a flag meeting at Octroi Border Out Post (BoP) along IB in R S Pura sector of Jammu district, the official said.

BSF authorities have passed on to them pictorial evidence of the tunnel which is coming in straight alignment from Pakistan to Chichwal border village via Chilyari post from Lumbriyal post in Shakergarh sector of Pakistan.

Senior BSF officials and Pakistan Rangers held a flag meeting at the Octroi BoP around 1500 hours.

"It is a matter of concern...This matter is being discussed at the highest levels between Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. An appropriate response, an appropriate way will be found to take it up with Pakistan," Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

Complimenting the security forces for the detection, the Home Minister said a similar tunnel was found sometime ago along the border.

Authorities had on July 28 detected the 400-metere long tunnel after an area caved-in in a straight line at some places due to rains near fencing close to Chillayari BoP of BSF along the IB.

The tunnel had been dug between two sides along IB on India's Chillayari BoP and Pakistan's Lumberiyal BoP. The tunnel was apparently dug for infiltration and smuggling. Authorities on July 28 had detected the tunnel at a depth of 25 ft below the ground level and it was of 3x3 ft dimension with a 2-inch pipe for air supply.